CLL Treatment Advances: HSCT Updates
- Despite advances in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatments, stem cell transplants remain a viable option for select patients, according to a study in the Internal medicine Journal.
- the study,examining data from Australia and New Zealand,revealed a 42% decrease in HSCT use,from 94 patients (2009-2013) to 50 patients (2014-2018).
- The researchers noted that the reduced use of stem cell transplants might indicate that the procedure is now reserved for healthier patients.
Explore the latest findings on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment with a focus on stem cell transplant (HSCT) updates.A recent study reveals a significant 42% decrease in HSCT use between 2009-2013 and 2014-2018, coinciding with the introduction of pathway inhibitors. This shift suggests a refined approach, possibly reserving HSCT for select patients. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) improved dramatically in the later period, vital for older patients.Discover how advancements, including newer pathway inhibitors.
The research indicates no significant differences in overall survival or progression-free survival. This is an significant advancement in treatment options. For more insights into thes updates, consider News Directory 3 for further news releases. Discover what’s next for CLL patients.
Stem Cell Transplants maintain Role in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment
Updated June 09, 2025
Despite advances in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatments, stem cell transplants remain a viable option for select patients, according to a study in the Internal medicine Journal. Researchers analyzed hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) outcomes between 2008 and 2018, a period marked by the introduction of pathway inhibitors (PIs) like Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
the study,examining data from Australia and New Zealand,revealed a 42% decrease in HSCT use,from 94 patients (2009-2013) to 50 patients (2014-2018). This decline mirrors trends in the United States, where one study showed a near three-fold reduction in allogeneic HSCTs for CLL between 2008 and 2015.
The researchers noted that the reduced use of stem cell transplants might indicate that the procedure is now reserved for healthier patients. Patients transplanted between 2014 and 2018 were followed for five years on average.
Non-relapse mortality (NRM),or death unrelated to relapse,was 23% (95% CI,12-37) in the 2014-2018 group,a significant advancement from the 42% (95% CI,31-52; P = .02) observed in 2009-2013.
The study also found that rates of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) within 100 days of transplant decreased from 52% (95% CI, 35-67) to 33% (95% CI, 19-48). Five-year cumulative chronic GVHD rates also dropped from 76% (95% CI, 56-87) to 55% (95% CI, 36-70; P = .032).
Patients transplanted in the later period were more likely to have received fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab, and PIs beforehand, and less likely to have undergone myeloablative conditioning.
Despite the improvements in NRM, the study found no significant differences in overall survival or progression-free survival between the two time periods.
“Improvements in NRM are crucial in CLL, where it remains a major driver of overall mortality following HSCT, notably in older patients,” the researchers wrote.
What’s next
Further research is needed to determine the long-term impact of pathway inhibitors on stem cell transplant outcomes for CLL patients and to refine patient selection criteria for HSCT.